Car park bridges set for demolition

Pedestrian bridges that have been used by millions of shoppers over five decades are set to be demolished.

The High Street Multi-Storey Car Park in Bracknell, Berkshire, was built in the 1970s to accommodate demand from people using the town centre.

Preparations are being made for it to be demolished to make way for more than 140 apartments.

The other bridge is located near the former Bentalls department store, which closed in September 2017 and was completely demolished in 2022.

The car park was used by shoppers and office workers for decades, with a total of 980 vehicle spaces.

The Princess Square shopping centre opened in 1984, with bridges attaching it to the second floor of the car park.

The car park itself has been closed off since October 2023 after Bracknell Forest Council deemed it structurally unsafe and unsuitable for modern vehicles.

Councillors approved its demolition at a meeting of the planning committee in August.

Officers approved the designs for how openings left by the bridges would be closed off earlier this month.

The car park site has been earmarked for 142 apartments in the council's town centre masterplans adopted in October 2024.

Two new buildings being created would contain the apartments, along with 2,284 sq m of commercial floorspace.